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allatsea

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
8,865
16,054
What’s worrying for them as well is their kids simply aren’t good enough and they’ve staked a lot on them being good. They’ve tried to fill 5 or 6 squad places and tbh most of their kids are ok nothing special Willock Nelson Maitland Saka etc all pretty average. I even doubt the much heralded Martinelli is really good enough if you’re aspiring for top 4. We paid £30m for a top British talent and let’s be honest he’s not really gonna get much of a look in.
Very impressed myself with both Willock and Maitland. More so Maitland who is continually played out of position.
 

Cochise

Well-Known Member
Aug 8, 2019
4,763
12,519
Maitland Niles wasn't much of a winger IMO and at fullback is a massive liability. He might manage to make the conversion to fullback, but his defending is still some way off a suitable level. Probably doesn't help that their CB's are all pretty shit too. Willock though has impressed me, if they persevere with him, I think they will see the rewards.

Can't comment on the other two.
 

rossdapep

Well-Known Member
Aug 25, 2011
21,907
78,644
Maitland Niles wasn't much of a winger IMO and at fullback is a massive liability. He might manage to make the conversion to fullback, but his defending is still some way off a suitable level. Probably doesn't help that their CB's are all pretty shit too. Willock though has impressed me, if they persevere with him, I think they will see the rewards.

Can't comment on the other two.
Feel a bit bad for Maitland-Niles, he isn't a full back by any means and started playing him there before he'd even developed as a first team winger which meant he was well out of his comfort zone. His performances then started getting hammered and he got dropped.

That shouldn't happen with a young player. Rose got converted into a full back but he got sent to Bristol City then Sunderland to work with it.
 

Cochise

Well-Known Member
Aug 8, 2019
4,763
12,519
Feel a bit bad for Maitland-Niles, he isn't a full back by any means and started playing him there before he'd even developed as a first team winger which meant he was well out of his comfort zone. His performances then started getting hammered and he got dropped.

That shouldn't happen with a young player. Rose got converted into a full back but he got sent to Bristol City then Sunderland to work with it.

Rose is a good comparison. I think you are right in that he needs to go somewhere where he will be out of the spotlight so to speak. Definitely drop a level.
 

LSUY

Well-Known Member
Jul 12, 2005
24,010
66,826
Spineless response from Arsenal. Not only have they joined the list of sports players, teams and organisations who are happy to bend over and spread for Chinese money but they've also hung Ozil out to dry whilst doing it.
 

ikky

Well-Known Member
Dec 6, 2006
8,951
21,262
Spineless response from Arsenal. Not only have they joined the list of sports players, teams and organisations who are happy to bend over and spread for Chinese money but they've also hung Ozil out to dry whilst doing it.
Agree, didn’t Bellerin say something clearly political just before our election and Arsenal decided to remain quiet about it.
 

Hakkz

Svensk hetsporre
Jul 6, 2012
8,196
17,270
Spineless response from Arsenal. Not only have they joined the list of sports players, teams and organisations who are happy to bend over and spread for Chinese money but they've also hung Ozil out to dry whilst doing it.

Tbf, what do you expect them to do?
 

Metalhead

But that's a debate for another thread.....
Nov 24, 2013
25,351
38,294
This is quite true, whatever one's view of China, or Arsenal, they are a sports club and shouldn't be involved in political statements in one way or another.
If he makes it clear that the views that he holds are his own and not that of the club and there is evidence to support what he says - I don't know - I feel uncomfortable with the idea that he shouldn't speak up if he can back up what he says.

If he had said the same about camps in North Korea - I think that there would have been nothing like the same backlash because they offer no economic value to arsenal or the premier league. Is that where we are now in society - willing to overlook anything where money is involved?
 

McFlash

In the corner, eating crayons.
Oct 19, 2005
12,740
45,363
If he makes it clear that the views that he holds are his own and not that of the club and there is evidence to support what he says - I don't know - I feel uncomfortable with the idea that he shouldn't speak up if he can back up what he says.

If he had said the same about camps in North Korea - I think that there would have been nothing like the same backlash because they offer no economic value to arsenal or the premier league. Is that where we are now in society - willing to overlook anything where money is involved?
No, I completely agree that Ozil, as an individual, is perfectly within his rights to speak out.
I don't believe that Arsenal should have to get involved at all.
 

Spurger King

can't smile without glue
Jul 22, 2008
43,881
95,147
If he makes it clear that the views that he holds are his own and not that of the club and there is evidence to support what he says - I don't know - I feel uncomfortable with the idea that he shouldn't speak up if he can back up what he says.

If he had said the same about camps in North Korea - I think that there would have been nothing like the same backlash because they offer no economic value to arsenal or the premier league. Is that where we are now in society - willing to overlook anything where money is involved?

I think Mcflash is simply talking about the club’s position. I have no problem with players expressing their political views (within reason), but the clubs themselves should stay well away. Look at Lucas Moura.
 

Hakkz

Svensk hetsporre
Jul 6, 2012
8,196
17,270
If he makes it clear that the views that he holds are his own and not that of the club and there is evidence to support what he says - I don't know - I feel uncomfortable with the idea that he shouldn't speak up if he can back up what he says.

If he had said the same about camps in North Korea - I think that there would have been nothing like the same backlash because they offer no economic value to arsenal or the premier league. Is that where we are now in society - willing to overlook anything where money is involved?

He can say whatever he wants, as long as it's clear that it's his opinion and not the club's.

I'm happy as long as football clubs do not get involved in other countries' politics. Especially when there are clubs basically funded by oil/blood money...
 

King of Otters

Well-Known Member
Jun 11, 2012
10,751
36,093
Tbf, what do you expect them to do?

They could recognise it’s a sensitive human rights issue and, at the very least, STFU about it. Instead, they distance themselves from the comments because they’re worried about losing out on support in a growing market.

It’s shameful, particularly when they had nothing to say about Bellerin’s political stance of the day before.
 

philll

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
9,110
31,701
The difference with Bellerin's post was that it wasn't going to annoy China. Arsenal could've just said nothing but they went out of their way to release a statement on Chinese social media. It's not a great look.
 

Metalhead

But that's a debate for another thread.....
Nov 24, 2013
25,351
38,294
I think Mcflash is simply talking about the club’s position. I have no problem with players expressing their political views (within reason), but the clubs themselves should stay well away. Look at Lucas Moura.
I've got no problem with that - in terms of clubs - I'm not even sure how it would work anyway about a club taking an official line. Would they have to take a lead from the premier league?
 

McFlash

In the corner, eating crayons.
Oct 19, 2005
12,740
45,363
They could recognise it’s a sensitive human rights issue and, at the very least, STFU about it. Instead, they distance themselves from the comments because they’re worried about losing out on support in a growing market.

It’s shameful, particularly when they had nothing to say about Bellerin’s political stance of the day before.
Yeah but Ozil's statement is potentially a lot more provocative, or inflammatory, than Bellerin's. Apart from the stupid inclusion of a "#fuckboris" hashtag, Bellerin was just urging people to vote.
Ozil is openly speaking about an issue that, even governments are treading lightly around.
 
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